The good news? Regional temperatures.
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It's going to be snowy, windy and a bit nasty this weekend. Here's what you need to know.
The good news? Regional temperatures.
7News First Alert meteorologist Steve Rudin said he expects between 1 and 3 inches to fall after midnight Saturday.
“I don't think we're going to see as much snow as we originally expected,” Rudin said.
“We can't have a lot of snow stuck to the ground with temperatures well above freezing, but temperatures will drop” through Saturday, he said. “This is the time when the heaviest snow will fall.”
Farther north and west, Rudin said 3, 4 and 5 inches are “not out of the question.”
The predominant disturbance will be wind as it is expected to become cold and windy. Wind speeds can range between 25 and 30 miles per hour.
Districts across the region are already preparing for the upcoming weather, making changes to their activity schedules and facilities. Check WTOP's list of closures and delays for the latest.
On Sunday, early morning temperatures may start to cool but should rise to the mid-40s.
Another important note, if you're driving: The George Washington Memorial Parkway North from Interstate 495 to Spout Run is closed until further notice in anticipation of severe winter weather, the National Park Service said.
How do road crews prepare?
Snowy weather isn't just fun and games. This also means that roads in the metropolitan area need to be addressed.
Crews are handling the job, Shanti Felix of the Maryland State Highway Administration told WTOP.
“We did pre-treatment – this is applying a brine solution to the road. So, you might have seen those squiggly lines on the road. This means we have applied our solution and this prevents the roads from slipping when it snows,” Felix said.
She said the crew would be out Friday night.
“We will go into emergency operations mode in a few hours,” she said, adding that since wintry weather is expected overnight, having fewer people on the roads should make things a little easier.
Climate prediction:
Before day break on Saturday: Winter alert
Winter Weather Advisory from 11pm to 7am: The capital, Fairfax, Prince George's, points south and east
Winter Storm Warning 11pm-5am: Montgomery and Loudoun, pointing north and west
Snow totals: 2-4″ Capital Metro, 4-6″+ Northwest Ring Road
Lowest levels: 30 seconds
Wind: East 5-10 mph
A winter weather watch has been issued for areas inside, south and east of the Capital Beltway until 7 a.m. Saturday. Additionally, a winter storm warning has been posted along the I-81 corridor along with Montgomery and Loudoun counties. By midnight, the entire DMV area will be covered in snow. Snow amounts will vary by location, with 2 to 4 inches expected for the metro area and 4 inches or more for areas under a warning. At times, snowfall rates may become moderate to heavy at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Untreated roads will become snow-covered and slippery.
Saturday: Snow ends by 7 a.m., turning Mostly sunny, windy
Heights: Close to 40
Wind chill:near 30
Wind: NW 10 – 20, gusting up to 30 mph
Any remaining snow showers will end quickly before 7am. As the skies clear and the sun shines, the winds will increase, giving way to temperatures feeling in the 20s and 30s. There may be winds exceeding 30 mph, while actual air temperatures are close to 40 degrees.
Rest of Presidents Weekend:
Sunday morning will start out very cold with temperatures in the teens and 20s. High temperatures Sunday afternoon will return to the upper 40s to around 50 degrees with a strong southwest breeze. The wind chills will be near 40 degrees, so it will still be pretty cold, but at least the higher sun angle should make it feel a little better in the sunlight. Presidents Day Monday is headed toward sunny and milder with highs in the low 50s. Temperatures are expected to rise above average over the next week.
Present states or current states:
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